Key facts
- India's first Assistive Technology Mart has been launched
- Covers mobility aids, hearing devices, communication tools, adaptive software
- India has over 26 million persons with disabilities per 2011 Census
- Aims to improve access, visibility, and affordability of assistive products
India has launched its first Assistive Technology Mart, a milestone initiative that creates a first-of-its-kind dedicated marketplace for products and technologies designed to support persons with disabilities. The launch, reported by The Times of India, aims to address a long-standing gap in the accessibility ecosystem, where assistive devices have historically been difficult to find, prohibitively expensive, or poorly distributed outside major urban centres.
The mart is designed to serve as both a physical and conceptual hub — bringing together manufacturers, NGOs, government schemes, and end users in a single space. Products on offer range from wheelchairs and hearing aids to braille devices, augmentative communication tools, and adaptive technology for the visually impaired. By aggregating supply, the mart is expected to drive down costs through competition and scale.
India's disabled population, estimated at over 26 million by the 2011 Census and likely higher today, has historically been underserved by mainstream retail and healthcare channels. Assistive technology in India has suffered from low awareness among both users and prescribers, limited domestic manufacturing, and high import costs on sophisticated devices. The mart model seeks to disrupt this by creating visibility and a trusted retail environment.
The launch also aligns with India's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which it is a signatory, and with the Accessible India Campaign. If the model proves viable, replication across other cities could significantly widen access to life-changing technology for one of the country's most underserved populations.